"Around the Arctic" Tour

Guest Ed · Guest

Hi All,

In the spirit of great world tours, like The-GPS-Kid's Baron 58 World Tour, I've been on an Around the Arctic tour.

I started in San Francisco and flew north to Barrow, Alaska, in the Lear Jet (because the world's a big place and I don't have THAT much time to fly). Since leaving Barrow, I've been flying east, staying as close to the Arctic Ocean as possible.

I actually started flying in "real time," that is November, but I got tired of the constant darkness-- I didn't see the full disk of the sun until I got up around 10,000 feet-- so I turned the calendar forward to Spring so I at least get 12 hours of sunshine a day.

After visiting Thule Airforce Base in Greenland, I dipped south to visit Iceland and Scotland, but then I headed back up to the north of Norway.

I did take a day to fly around the fjords of Norway in a borrowed King Air 350 (so far, the most scenic part of the trip) but today I'm back in the Lear and heading east across the north of Europe. I stopped this evening to stretch my legs in Archangel, Russia(?), and tomorrow I'll be back in the saddle, heading east.

There was a strong Aurora Borealis when I was heading towards Iceland-- that's always entertaining to watch on long night flights.

Ed

The-GPS-Kid · Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2004 11:58 am Post subject:

That sounds Great Ed - I remember you mentioning that you started the tour in November!

D'you know I still haven't managed to catch the "Northern Lights" yet !! I flew a 727 TNT Cargo route from Gatwick up to Longyear (Svaalbard, Norwegian Arctic Territory) but I didn;t see it... I think the problem was that although it was dark (it usually is up at the Arctic), I did actually have the 'time' set to 'day'..... so perhaps it's only configured to show the Northern Light, during the night....

That's an interesting tour Ed - not the sort of places most people would think of which is fun.... I've also flew the 727 to Greenland - there are lot's of Runways there that are in the sea - makes for some interesting hand-approaches !
_________________
Dell P4 3.0Ghz, 2048Mb RAM, ATI X800 256/256Mb Grfx, 17" TFT, 15" TFT (Instruments), ATI Omega Drivers

The GPS Kid is currently flying, exclusively:-

Level D 767-300ER

.... for First Choice, BA, and Delta

Guest Ed · Guest

About the Aurora-- I've only seen it three times in 11 months of sim flying (saw it once several years ago in real life flying, too). It was always in the month of May, at about dusk, in high northern latitudes. For instance, I saved the flight at the point where I first saw it:

I was flying inbound to Anchorage, Alaska. Latitude N58 deg 22 min., Longitude W160 deg 20 min, at 15,000 feet on a heading of 061 deg, 113 miles from Anchorage. Local time was 20:40. The date was May 2, 2003 (flight sim date). Weather was clear.

It appeared again the following night, south of Juneau, Alaska, on a course for Vancouver, British Columbia.

I think the best way to watch it is to go to the Spot Plane view, and back away as far as possible, to see all the sky you can. On the rear quarter position and slightly below your plane is best, I think. The aurora will appear in front of the plane, but it sometimes flares up and covers the entire sky in green, blue and gold. It's not always there; it disappears for several seconds at a time, but then it comes back and lasts several seconds.

Really, I'm not making this up. Laughing

Ed

ARD-DC · Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2004 10:43 am Post subject:

No - he's not indeed Laughing

I saw it as well, Flight date somewhere early November, Clear weather, Flying over South of Finland on a NNW heading.
Sorry, can't be more precise as I didnt write it down.. :/
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The-GPS-Kid · Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2004 1:09 pm Post subject:

Well I'll just have to keep looking !

I'm sure I'll see it when I start the "GPS Kid Low and Slow Tour" in mid-December !

As soon as I finish the Baron Tour (currently still crossing the Pacific bit by bit - now in Nuva'u, Tonga heading for Christmas Island), I'm going to start the above tour :-

Newcastle, UK (EGNT) - Northern Norway in a Cessna 152 with no Autopilot.

Norway - Arctic Russia in a Piper PA28 - 181 (Archer II) with single Axis Autopilot only (you have to maintain altitude using trim)

Arctic Russia - New Siberian Islands in a Diamon HK36 Motor Glider / Piper J-3 Cub.

New Siberian Islands - home to Newcastle in a fast Jet !
_________________
Dell P4 3.0Ghz, 2048Mb RAM, ATI X800 256/256Mb Grfx, 17" TFT, 15" TFT (Instruments), ATI Omega Drivers

The GPS Kid is currently flying, exclusively:-

Level D 767-300ER

.... for First Choice, BA, and Delta

Guest Ed · Guest

ARC-DC,

Thanks for backing me up there; I was beginning to wonder if I was the only person seeing bright lights in the sky. Confused

The-GPS-Kid, when you're flying the Low and Slow Tour, watch for me-- I'll be that shiny speck overhead at FL330 and Mach .81.. Very Happy

Ed

ARD-DC · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 9:26 am Post subject:

Hi Ed,
No I definately saw it too! Very Happy

In fact I was amazed how long it lasted.....flying from Moscow to Stavanger area and back south flying over the Norwegian coastline It was there for several hours! Shocked

.

I'd have to check my logbook to find the exact route.
I could do that, but Ill probably forget so dont count on it Very Happy

_________________

Guest Ed · Guest

I finished the Around the Arctic Tour this morning, with a relatively short hop from Provideniya Bay (UHMD), near the north-eastern tip of Asia, back up to Barrow, Alaska (PABR). There sure are some very long stretches across the top of Russia where there are no airports! It's kind of disheartening when you open the GPS "Nearest" menu, and it's BLANK!

No more Aurora sightings along the way, though.

After looking at the ice pack for so many hours, I decided it was time to head for warmer climes-- so today I went diagonally down across North America, finally landing at Key West (Florida) Naval Air Station (KNQX). That's a fairly long haul, close to 4,000 miles (6400 km), so I had to make one stop for fuel at Duluth, Minnesota (KDLH) in the US. I just BARELY made it; the Lear Jet carries just over 6000 pounds of fuel, and I landed at Duluth with 27 pounds of fuel left. Shocked

That's cutting it a little close for comfort!

Anyhow, I think I will continue south along the eastern coast of South America, then maybe I'll do the "Around the ANTarctic Tour." Very Happy

Ed

The-GPS-Kid · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 1:21 pm Post subject:

Here's an idea for anyone looking for a tour; POLE TO POLE.

Flying from the North Pole to the South Pole using PROPS only (no Jets!)
_________________
Dell P4 3.0Ghz, 2048Mb RAM, ATI X800 256/256Mb Grfx, 17" TFT, 15" TFT (Instruments), ATI Omega Drivers

The GPS Kid is currently flying, exclusively:-

Level D 767-300ER

.... for First Choice, BA, and Delta

KurtPStevens · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 3:12 pm Post subject: PAC Route

Hey David, once you find your way across the Pacific, please post your route. There is not a heck of a lot out there and I'd love to know how you did it. Last time I tried to cross that way I gave up and went north through Tarawa and Midway to Alaska.

I am on my second trip around the globe in the Legendary 727. I started in Salinas, CA (USA) and have gone through:
Mexico City (Mexico),
Medillien (Columbia),
Paramaribo (Suriname),
Fortaleza (Brazil),
Banjul (Gambia, That was as close one on fuel!),
Lagos (Nigeria),
Luanda (Angola),
Cape Town (S.Africa), I rented a Cessna 172 and saw the whole place. I was great!
I am in Lusaka (Zambia) today.

Let me know about the Pole-to-Pole run too. I'll pull my Shorts360 out of retirement and fly along.
_________________
Kurt
Maintain Thy Airspeed, Lest the Earth Should Rise Up and Smite Thee. Amen

The-GPS-Kid · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 5:45 pm Post subject:

I will Kurt ! I'm currently doing ok - I'm in Tonga - so I haven't gotten to the hard part yet, which is where the South Pacific Islands are behind me, and there's a lot of water before South America appears !

I'm determined to find a way though... There are some uncharted islands out there so as long as I can land the Baron, I'll reward myself by finding that the locals have a supply of Avgas, and that they're happy to take Mastercard for it Shocked

I'm recording my route though so if I find islands such as below, I'll note down the N001'000 E001'000 location (can't remember what you call that!) so you'd be able to find it too.

I respect your tour because doing any tour in the 727 is extra challenging because it uses it's fuel SO FAST if you cruise at max speed (at the Barber Pole)... I just managed to get from the UK up to Svaalbard (arctic Norwegian Territory), and it's not even that far in distance terms. I did have Anti-Ice on all the way though, which uses more fuel.
_________________
Dell P4 3.0Ghz, 2048Mb RAM, ATI X800 256/256Mb Grfx, 17" TFT, 15" TFT (Instruments), ATI Omega Drivers

The GPS Kid is currently flying, exclusively:-

Level D 767-300ER

.... for First Choice, BA, and Delta

Guest · Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2004 6:17 am Post subject:

KurtPStevens · Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2004 1:42 pm Post subject: Thanks

Thanks for that cheerful thought Ed Shocked

_________________
Kurt
Maintain Thy Airspeed, Lest the Earth Should Rise Up and Smite Thee. Amen

Guest Ed · Guest

Fire_Emblem_Master · Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 10:38 pm Post subject:

Don't we all wish there was...E-Mail Bombardier with your idea, maybe it'll sell Razz

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